Chapter 48: Secrets of the Vanguard

The last golem collapsed, its glowing core flickering one final time before shutting down completely. Dust settled over the ancient stone floor, the echoes of battle fading into the vast, silent halls of Solmara.

Then, the fortress rumbled.

Unlike before, this was not an attack. The vibrations were controlled, as if the very walls of Solmara were acknowledging their victory. The golden engravings across the chamber shifted, their light flowing toward the farthest wall.

A deep, mechanical click echoed through the chamber.

Then—the final gate unlocked.

The voice of the Vanguard returned, no longer just a hollow echo but something deeper, more resonant.

"Trial complete. You are worthy."

The massive inner gates groaned open, revealing the true heart of Solmara.

Elias took a cautious step forward, his breath catching as the room beyond was finally revealed.

It was not a tomb.

It was a factory.

A war foundry, untouched for centuries.

The Arsenal of a Forgotten Age

The chamber stretched farther than his eyes could see, lined with massive constructs, workbenches, and rows of unassembled weapons.

Towering machines of war, some humanoid, some built for siege combat, stood frozen in time. The air was thick with the scent of old metal and preserved enchantments, like a battlefield waiting for warriors to return.

Marco adjusted his glasses, scanning the intricate schematics carved into the walls. His fingers trembled as they traced over the engravings.

"This… This isn't just a vault," he whispered. "This is a weapons development facility."

Elias exhaled. "A Vanguard war factory."

Cecilia let out a low whistle. "Okay, that was worth the near-death experience."

Reinhardt stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he eyed a half-assembled battle construct, its metallic arms reinforced with unfamiliar alloys.

"You think any of this still works?"

Kierian, who had been silent since the doors opened, stepped past them all, his glowing eyes scanning the chamber with something between reverence and sorrow.

"This… This is what remains of the Obsidian Vanguard's final stand." His voice was quiet. "These were the weapons we never had the chance to use."

Lira glanced at him, frowning. "If this place is so important, why didn't the Vanguard use it before they fell?"

Kierian's hands tightened into fists. "Because we never had the time. The final assault came too soon. Solmara was supposed to be our final warfront, but before we could deploy these weapons, we were overrun."

A heavy silence followed.

Elias moved to one of the dust-covered workbenches, wiping away centuries of grime. Beneath it, he found a preserved blueprint—a schematic for a battle exosuit, powered by an internal mana core. The design was far ahead of its time, featuring kinetic amplifiers, integrated shielding, and modular weapon attachments.

His mind raced with possibilities.

This… This could change everything.

Cecilia peered over his shoulder. "Oh no. I know that look. That's the Elias is about to do something insane look."

Elias ignored her, his grin widening.

"We're not looting this place," he said. "We're finishing their work."

Lira groaned. "And here I was, hoping we'd be done with the whole 'getting hunted for breaking ancient rules' thing."

Marco exhaled, shaking his head. "This isn't just research, Elias. This is a declaration of war."

Kierian turned toward him. "The war has already begun."

The room fell silent again.

They all knew what this meant.

The Primordial Lords were moving. The world was still blind to the coming invasion, and the Academy was too corrupt and arrogant to acknowledge the truth. If they walked away now, no one would ever be prepared for what was coming.

Elias clenched his fists. No. That wasn't happening.

House Null wasn't going to sit on the sidelines.

If the world was too blind to fight back, then they'd build the weapons to save it themselves.

Reinhardt grinned, slamming his fist into his palm. "Alright, then. Where do we start?"

Elias looked around the factory, his mind already assembling the pieces.

He took a deep breath and spoke two words.

"Everything."

And with that, the war for humanity's survival truly began.